For the second time this month, the municipality of Lebel-sur-Quévillon had to be evacuated on Thursday.
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Although this renewed evacuation went well, Mayor Guy Lafrenière’s morale was shaken, he admitted in an interview with LCN.
“I’m below average. “I’m holding the fort, as the saying goes, but we also have a good team on site,” said the chosen one.
At 18:30, buses carrying people without a vehicle left the municipality for Val-d’Or.
The wildfires rendered Highway 113 northbound impassable, while the blaze reached within a mile (1.5 km) of the road southbound.
“I can’t keep my citizens in an isolated city where there are no more roads,” asserts Guy Lafrenière.
The citizens of Lebel-sur-Quévillon were prepared for this evacuation; Two-thirds of them had already left before the evacuation announcement on Thursday, the mayor said.
“I think it’s sad for people,” Mr Lafrenière said. “Tomorrow morning it will be three weeks since we were there with that fire.”
The mayor and his citizens are now hoping that the rain forecast for the beginning of next week will support the work of the SOPFEU teams.
“We received 1mm within 6 weeks. If it drops to 30 in two days, I can tell you we’ll be happy!” Guy Lafrenière starts.
One thing is certain: it will take significant rainfall for the citizens of Lebel-sur-Quévillon to return to their homes.
“We can’t risk coming back and leaving a third time,” the mayor proclaims.
To see the full interview, watch the video above.